By virtue of not only having the No. 2 overall draft pick (OLB Von Miller), but two picks in the second round (FS Rahim Moore, RT Orlando Franklin), the Broncos were allocated an NFL-high $44 million to sign their nine draft picks, according to an NFL source.

While $44 million is tops, consider that Ndamukong Suh got $60 million all by himself as the No. 2 draft pick in 2010.

The Carolina Panthers and Charles Johnson have agreed to a six-year contract worth $72 million.

Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson, relatively unknown until he agreed to a six-year, $72 million contract with $32 million in guarantees Tuesday to re-up with the Panthers, told the Gaston Gazette the Broncos and Atlanta Falcons were also bidding for his services.

Johnson played for Broncos head coach John Fox in Carolina the past four seasons. It’s unclear whether the Broncos believed Johnson, at 275 pounds, could play defensive tackle, the team’s primary position of need.

What’s encouraging is the Broncos must have a decent free-agent budget if they were in on a player who wound up with a $72 million deal.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.